Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 6:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 6:33 p.m.

Good Earth Transit's weekday, fixed-route bus schedule from Houma to Thibodaux will be cut back Jan. 1.

"We are reducing the number of trips that go back and forth between Thibodaux and Houma during the weekdays from 10 trips per day to six," said Public Transit Administrator Wendell Voisin.

The change will not affect weekend and holiday bus service between Houma and Thibodaux, and no other routes are being cut back.

Buses, which operate between the two cities from 6:10 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. weekdays, will run every other hour throughout the day. On even hours, buses running to Thibodaux pick up passengers. On odd hours, buses to Houma pick up passengers.

Peak travel times — the early run to Thibodaux and the 2 p.m. run back to Houma — will not be affected, Voisin said.

The changes come from the transit department being understaffed.

"We don't have enough bus drivers to sustain the system the way it is," Voisin said. "It is inefficient."

"We've been advertising for bus drivers, but it's difficult to find drivers. It is not a budgetary thing. It's based more on human resource requirements."

As a result, Voisin said the new plan should provide a sufficient system that requires fewer bus drivers.

"I'm certain at some point we will have more bus drivers available," he said. "We are going to try and hire people. (But) we've been understaffed for over a year now. We can't continue to operate the way we have in the past."

Ultimately, this will lessen the convenience for people who intermittently ride the bus, Voisin said.

"That's the unfortunate side effect, and I wish we didn't have to do it."

Lois Morgan, who lives in Houma but works in Thibodaux, doesn't have her own vehicle. She said the new schedule would inconvenience her by limiting the number of rides available throughout the day.

"If I have to be at work at a certain time, or be home at a certain time, that delays me," she said. "That's all there is to it."

Other bus riders in Houma said as long as peak hours aren't affected, the new schedule isn't a problem. Still, many said providing a consistent schedule would be an improvement.

"There's been so many changes to the schedule already," said Michael Robichaux, Thibodaux resident and Nicholls State University student. "I just hope they get it together at some point so people don't always have to change their schedules."

To submit written comments or suggestions, or to request a public hearing on the service reduction, call 850-4616 by Thursday.

Schedules by fax or mail are also available at that number and at tpcg.org and on all buses.

<p>Good Earth Transit's weekday, fixed-route bus schedule from Houma to Thibodaux will be cut back Jan. 1. </p><p>"We are reducing the number of trips that go back and forth between Thibodaux and Houma during the weekdays from 10 trips per day to six," said Public Transit Administrator Wendell Voisin. </p><p>The change will not affect weekend and holiday bus service between Houma and Thibodaux, and no other routes are being cut back. </p><p>Buses, which operate between the two cities from 6:10 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. weekdays, will run every other hour throughout the day. On even hours, buses running to Thibodaux pick up passengers. On odd hours, buses to Houma pick up passengers.</p><p>Peak travel times — the early run to Thibodaux and the 2 p.m. run back to Houma — will not be affected, Voisin said.</p><p>The changes come from the transit department being understaffed. </p><p>"We don't have enough bus drivers to sustain the system the way it is," Voisin said. "It is inefficient." </p><p>Finding money to hire new bus drivers is not the issue, Voisin said. It's finding qualified candidates.</p><p>"We've been advertising for bus drivers, but it's difficult to find drivers. It is not a budgetary thing. It's based more on human resource requirements." </p><p>As a result, Voisin said the new plan should provide a sufficient system that requires fewer bus drivers. </p><p>"I'm certain at some point we will have more bus drivers available," he said. "We are going to try and hire people. (But) we've been understaffed for over a year now. We can't continue to operate the way we have in the past." </p><p>Ultimately, this will lessen the convenience for people who intermittently ride the bus, Voisin said.</p><p>"That's the unfortunate side effect, and I wish we didn't have to do it."</p><p>Lois Morgan, who lives in Houma but works in Thibodaux, doesn't have her own vehicle. She said the new schedule would inconvenience her by limiting the number of rides available throughout the day. </p><p>"If I have to be at work at a certain time, or be home at a certain time, that delays me," she said. "That's all there is to it." </p><p>Other bus riders in Houma said as long as peak hours aren't affected, the new schedule isn't a problem. Still, many said providing a consistent schedule would be an improvement. </p><p>"There's been so many changes to the schedule already," said Michael Robichaux, Thibodaux resident and Nicholls State University student. "I just hope they get it together at some point so people don't always have to change their schedules." </p><p>To submit written comments or suggestions, or to request a public hearing on the service reduction, call 850-4616 by Thursday. </p><p>Schedules by fax or mail are also available at that number and at tpcg.org and on all buses.</p>